Scott Robertson on how he will handle Damian McKenzie after the flick pass

All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson has explained the approach he will take with Damian McKenzie after an audacious backhand flick pass potentially cost the All Blacks a key try in Sydney.

The All Black No 10 was looking dangerous against the Wallabies in Sydney opening them up a number of times only for the last pass to go astray multiple times.

During a key passage in the second half, McKenzie attempted a backhand flick to the inside support runner after a cross-field chip had been gathered and sent inside to the All Blacks support.

Robertson explained that the approach from the All Blacks coaching staff won't be to "slap him on the wrist" for trying to express himself.

"Slapping on the wrist... no, no, but you do have a conversation," Roberston explained.

"Because you want to trust their skillset, you want them to be instinctive.

"It's his greatest gift, isn't it? Find space, glide, but put it on someone's chest.

"Give that [pass] maybe a step earlier, and just get the reps in. Some good bit of pressure at training, but keep trusting himself."

The livewire No 10 had his first line break in the first half, taking Rod Valetini on the outside, but his traditional pass inside hit the back shoulder of the inside support runner and the opportunity went begging.

In the second half McKenzie was involved in two breakouts, one with the flick pass that again went begging and a third down the left sideline on a counter-attack that almost produced a stunning try to Cortez Ratima.

The long-range effort was ruled out over a forward pass from McKenzie as he tried to offload inside to Will Jordan as he was pulled down on the touchline.

Captain Scott Barrett said it just comes down to execution for the side which on a different day would put scoreboard pressure on.

"To be honest, I think it's, you know, it's just execution, really, that's all it is," Barrett said of the missed chances. 

"It's in those moments, the steel to finish those opportunities, because we're creating them.

"And when we do have teams under the pump, it could be the difference between 20 points on them."

Despite taking a lot of criticism for the lack of execution with a handful of chances, the irony of the performance is that McKenzie's boot ultimately won the contest.

After missing kicks at the death in Cape Town, McKenzie kicked five from five in Sydney including a number from the sideline in the first half.

With the Wallabies storming back in the second half to close the gap to 31-28, McKenzie's goal kicking proved vital in the final wash.